We study the properties of correlation matrices widely used in the characterisation of vibrational modes in colloidal materials. We show that the eigenvectors in the middle of the spectrum are strongly mixed, but that at both the top and the bottom o
f the spectrum it is possible to extract a good approximation to the true eigenmodes of an elastic system.
We investigate theoretically the onset of capillary-gravity waves created by a small object moving at the water-air interface. It is well established that, for straight uniform motion, no steady waves appear at velocities below the minimum phase velo
city $c_text{min} = 23 {rm cm/s}$. At higher velocities the emission of capillary-gravity waves creates an additional drag force. The behavior of this force near the critical velocity is still poorly understood. A linear response theory where the object is replaced by an effective pressure source predicts a singular behavior for the wave drag. However, experimental data tends to indicate a more continuous transition. In this article, we show that a proper treatment of the flow equations around the obstacle can regularize wave emission, even in the linear wave approximation, thereby ensuring a continuous behavior of the drag force.
We propose a simple model to analyze the traffic of droplets in microfluidic ``dual networks. Such functional networks which consist of two types of channels, namely those accessible or forbidden to droplets, often display a complex behavior characte
ristic of dynamical systems. By focusing on three recently proposed configurations, we offer an explanation for their remarkable behavior. Additionally, the model allows us to predict the behavior in different parameter regimes. A verification will clarify fundamental issues, such as the network symmetry, the role of the driving conditions, and of the occurrence of reversible behavior. The model lends itself to a fast numerical implementation, thus can help designing devices, identifying parameter windows where the behavior is sufficiently robust for a devices to be practically useful, and exploring new functionalities.
